Erie man held for trial on charges in alleged sexual assault

An Erie man is heading to trial on charges including rape of a child and indecent assault in the alleged sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl in late 2012.

Devon M. McLaurin, 22, was ordered held for trial on four criminal charges following his preliminary hearing before Erie 6th Ward District Judge Dominick DiPaolo this morning.

The victim, now 10, testified that McLaurin sexually assaulted her at a residence in Erie sometime during the current school year. Police said the incidents happened between September and December.

McLaurin was also scheduled for a preliminary hearing this morning on charges of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in late 2012. But prosecutors withdrew those charges after telling DiPaolo that the victim is now saying that the assaults did not happen.

McLaurin was returned after this morning's hearing to the Erie County Prison, where he is being held on $100,000 bond.